Monthly Archives: April 2012

Many DU students use fake ID's to purchase alcohol and gain entry into local bars

College students under the age of 21-years-old are continuing to use fake identification in order to purchase alcohol and gain entry into bars despite the harsh consequences that are subsequent if caught with one.

The potential charges in the state of Colorado for possession of a fake identification can result in a felony, amount to fines up to $1000, and one year in jail if convicted.

Kristen Olson, director of the student conduct department at the University of Denver, said that the punishments through the University vary from case to case.

“The outcome that usually results from a student that is caught with a fake identification is two quarters probation,” said Olson, “But if a student is caught in the act of using the fake ID that can sometimes result in up to a year of probation or possible suspension. If a student is caught two times with a fake identification through the school, criminal charges will be pressed on the student by the university.”

Students at the University of Denver lined up at the bookstore at the beginning of spring quarter only to find their books were not in supply, impacting both students and teachers alike.

Rather than books, students like Sam Thomsen found backorder sheets and long wait times. “I actually wasn’t able to get all of my books this semester, they had all of them but two,” Said Thomsen.

Jens Olsen a senior here at DU had a similar experience “I was only able to get one when I went,” he said. “All the others one they sent back because they didn’t think they needed them, and the rest of them they just hadn’t ordered in.” Continue reading →

Most students who choose to attend the University of Denver have nothing but positive things to say about the school, but one of the few complaints they usually have is about the food they serve on campus.

While most students agree that food should not be a major factor on whether or not one should attend a school, many others think that the fact that the school costs so much money should lead to more variety and longer hours of service.

Sodexo, the school’s provider, is always trying to find new ways to entice the students’ taste buds, and while they are sometimes able to succeed and impress students, they never seem to get it right all the time. “We do surveys, we have comment programs and we interact with our customers, so we get a feel about what students think, what they want, where they want it, and at a value,” says Ira Simon, Resident District Manager of Denver Dining Services. “It is very important that we evaluate our program and meet those expectations.”

However it is not always just the food that is the problem, most students find it an even larger problem that they cannot get food at any hour of the day.

Crowds line up for up to an hour at the original Capitol Hill Jelly location to enjoy the vintage decor, with tea sets hanging from the light fixtures and indulge in both sweet and savoury breakfast and lunch offerings.

Several popular restaurants in the University of Denver area closed over the last several months, including Tokyo Joe’s, Garbanzo’s and the Spicy Pickle, making room for new food options to steak their claim.

Jelly, a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch with a contemporary twist on classic diner food, will open a location this August at 1700 E. Evans Ave., the space formerly occupied by Tokyo Joe’s.

“Joe’s was there for 15 years and most of the reason for us pulling out of that site is that the landlord wanted a hefty increase in rent,” said Tokyo Joe’s president and owner, Larry Leith. “We closed it late last summer… and yes, the neighborhood did have a high turnover rate for restaurants but we did nicely there.”

There is much more to college life than academics. The average student is usually juggling school, a social life, a job, and possibly a romantic relationship on a daily basis. Many students at the University of Denver are experiencing the struggles and also perks that all of the different aspects of college life are throwing their way.

It can be very difficult to move away from the familiarity of your hometown, to a place where everyone is seen as a stranger. Some students have a tendency to fall quickly into relationships the second they enter college; and it can be very easy to get caught up in lust rather than love.

One particular romantic relationship, which bloomed on the campus of the University of Denver, is between 21-year-old Amber and her boyfriend Brett. They met in their very first class of their freshman year and have been together ever since. They are now juniors and their relationship is going strong. So, what’s the secret?

Amber found that, “having someone who understands me and someone that I can rely on has made this year far easier”.

College is supposed to be the key to success, right? It’s supposed to make students attractive to employers by providing with the necessary tools for their future career. It used to be that if students graduated from college, they were guaranteed a job post-graduation. No questions asked. The job market is tough and students are struggling. Now, things are different.

It’s highly debated whether particular majors or programs of study leave students better off after graduation. Three students from a range of majors have conflicting views on life following graduation. Some see a bright future and others are skeptical about the job market and the education they are receiving.

Deanna Metropoulos, 20, is a criminology and sociology major at the University of Denver. She is incredibly nervous about the future.

“The job market right now sucks. You have to have connections and graduate from a good school with a good GPA to be successful. I dont really feel like my education is preparing me, its mostly just helping understand concepts. In the real world, people aren’t going to be asking me questions like they do in school. The only good job I’ll be able to get is with the CIA or FBI and how likely is that? I’m nervous for the future.”

A study done recently by Price Waterhouse and Coopers claims that 85% of post-graduation professionalsuccess is attributed to people skills and only 15% to the actual technical skills colleges insist are necessary for the job market. Some colleges realize this trend and are lending help to students with skills like networking while in college and the perfect interview technique.

More and more Chinese students have been appearing on college campuses in the U.S. in recent years.

Ge Lv, junior, current president of DU CSSA

According to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange published by the Institute of International Education on Nov. 14, 2011, the enrollment of Chinese students in the U.S. was the highest in 2010/11 compared to the international students from other countries. University of Denver (DU) is in the same situation: More and more Chinese students are coming to study here.

“Eight years ago, there were only two Chinese students at DU, but now there are 648 students. The number of Chinese students at DU has increased dramatically since 2009,” Ge Lv, junior, current president of DU Chinese Students and Scholars Association (DU CSSA) said.